The Centre for Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tectonics (COMET)

COMET centre for observation and modelling of earthquakes, volcanoes & techtronics

The Centre for the Observation and Modelling of Earthquakes Volcanoes and Tectonics (COMET) delivers National Capability Science for NERC using satellite measurements alongside ground-based observations and geophysical models to study earthquakes and volcanoes, helping us to understand the hazards they pose. COMET was founded in 2002, rapidly establishing itself as a world-leading centre for the integrated exploitation of satellite data (Earth Observation), ground-based data, and geophysical models for research into geohazards. COMET is now a national-scale community with considerable size and impact, which brings together world-leading scientists across the BGS and 14 UK universities: Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, East Anglia, Edinburgh, Exeter, Imperial, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Oxford, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Sheffield.

Since April 2014, we have been working in partnership with the British Geological Survey (BGS) to better understand tectonic processes and hazards. Together, we deliver cutting-edge research on earthquakes and volcanoes as well as hazard monitoring services. The activities of COMET and BGS are highly synergistic. Their 20+ years of research using and developing satellite radar interferometry (InSAR) for measuring deformation, for example, has enabled them to develop real-time deformation data to the community.

The long-term underpinning Earth Observation science and geohazards research that we undertake alongside BGS benefits the wider community of environmental scientists and provides a flexible platform to respond to natural disasters. By combining data from this service with COMET and BGS expertise, we are able to provide reliable, rapid advice to governments, the scientific community, and local partner organisations during a seismic or volcanic crisis.

We also work closely with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO) and European Space Agency (ESA), and many other national and international partners. Our long-term collaborations with partner organisations worldwide also make BGS-COMET uniquely placed to engender collaborations with and between developing nations (many on the DAC list).
 

Impact

COMET members contribute to research in response to significant global events. Following the Türkiye-Syria earthquake in February 2023, which caused widespread destruction both in Türkiye and Syria, COMET worked closely with international partners, focusing initially on processing satellite data to measure how the ground moved during the earthquake. We also provided a technical briefing to the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which is a UN agency that supports the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees. COMET works closely with governments, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other partners to deliver real-world impact, shape policy decisions and improve how we manage natural hazards. 

Through our partnership with BGS, we also provide emergency advice for the Scientific Advisory Group in Emergencies (SAGE) and Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBR) and further scientific expertise on volcanic hazards and impacts as requested to UK government departments and the European Emergency Response and Coordination Centre. 

Through the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) program ‘Geoenvironmental Security of the Kazakh and Kyrgyz republics’, COMET researchers are building detailed earthquake records across the Tien Shan region, and incorporating these data into national hazard maps and assessments in collaboration with our partners. 

We have developed close links with the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) and Global Volcano Model (GVM) as well as the US Geological Survey (USGS) and their Powell Centre Working Group. We also sit on the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Working Group on Disasters (leading the Pilot and Demonstrator projects) and Deep Carbon Observatory, and make our data available via the European Plate Observing System (EPOS).

We also work with the space agencies, advising ESA on Sentinel-1’s acquisition strategy and helping to develop new EO missions, with COMET scientists sitting on the Mission Advisory Groups for Earth Explorer 10 mission Harmony, and Sentinel-1-NG. 

For furter content please follow the below links:

COMET Datasets and Services
COMET Webinars
 

Publications and outputs

For publications please click here

Project website

https://comet.nerc.ac.uk/